Psalm 119: Focus On God's Word Pt 67 Following Hard After Jehovah No Matter What!

Psalm 119:17-22  GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. 18)  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19)  I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. 20)  My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. 21)  Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. 22)  Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. 

Thinking about God's truth is antidote to those who speak lies.

Psalm 119:23  Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. 

We learned a lot about how God can use those who oppose us to try our faith and help us mature as believers. 

We also learned that the Devil will use people like this to attack us so that we become discouraged or disenchanted with serving God. 

We also learned that this is part of the spiritual warfare that all believers face.

Now, we turn to the remedy the Psalmist has given us when we face these kinds of situations. 

We might call this practice "spiritual diversion" because we will learn to divert our minds when our souls are flooded with the hateful speech of ungodly people that is directed at us.

When we are in danger of slipping, look to Christ.

Psalm 94:18,19  When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. 19) In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

This text also expressed the dire situation the Psalmist found himself in. He was in danger of sliding away from the things of God and He remembered the mercy and lovingkindness that God extended to him. 

A timely diversion of his thoughts brought peace, comfort and joy into his heart. Distress was driven out as comfort flowed in. 

When enduring affliction, remember God will judge sinners.

Psalm 73:17,18  Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18)  Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 

Asaph wrote this Psalm and he too, encountered troubles. He found no relief or solace until he turned his mind toward the things of God by entering His sanctuary. 

As he meditated on what God said in His Word, he realized that the unrighteous will not escape Divine condemnation for their sins.

Moses turned away from the splendor of Egypt and the royal position he held, and was content to suffer reproach for Christ's sake. He kept his eyes on the invisible things of God in order to sustain him through his own unique burdens and heartaches (See Hebrews 11:24-28).

Jehovah will put a new song in our mouth when we look to Him. 

Psalm 40:1-4   I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2)  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3)  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4)  Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 

This is a psalm by King David. He waited on Jehovah to deliver him from his troubles and afflictions. Jehovah brought David up out of a horrible pit and the miry clay of sin and sinners. 

He set David's feet on the solid Rock, which was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). Then, God put a new song into David's mouth, filling him with many praises for God's tender faithful care. 

This turned David's heart from worrying about his enemies and their malicious words, and helped him focus upon heaven.

He learned that true blessing is found when a believer is fully trusting Jehovah, because He will hold sinners accountable for their sins. 

Sufferings in this life will be worked out for our benefit. 

Romans 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

When compared to the eternal things of God, the sufferings we endure in this life are like a vapor that dissipates as the morning sun shines on it. 

We can endure them because we know God will overrule evil with good and He will work all things that happen to us for His glory and our good. 

Momentary afflictions replaced by eternal glory.

2 Corinthians 4:17,18  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18)  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

Paul listed out many of the sufferings he endured for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In addition, we read about many of them in the book of Acts. 

Yet, this dear Christian, Christ's last called apostle, said they were light afflictions. They only lasted for a moment because he set his sight upon the Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

The commandments of God will make us wiser than our enemies, and they will strengthen our faith (Psalm 119:98).

However, when we meditate and stop to think about what God's word says, it must not be done lightly. This is a singularly important task for us and it is most helpful in our times of need.

We will be blessed if we take time to read Psalm 63, written by David when King Saul was pursuing hard after him in the wilderness. Saul wanted to kill David but Jehovah protected His servant. 

Psalm 63:1-11  A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2)  To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3)  Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4)  Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 5)  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6)  When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. 7)  Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 8)  My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. 9)  But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10)  They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. 11)  But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. 

May we be like David, remembering  the goodness of the Lord and meditating on His glorious character. May the Spirit of God fill our hearts with fresh passion for Christ, such that we follow hard after Him. 

Bob